The polar habitat includes the area around the North Pole (Arctic) and the South Pole (Antarctic). These regions are characterized by extreme cold, with temperatures that can drop below -40°C (-40°F) in the winter. The average temperature in the Arctic is -34°C (-29°F) in January and 10°C (50°F) in July. In the Antarctic, the average temperature is -57°C (-71°F) in January and -29°C (-20°F) in July.
The polar habitat is also characterized by long periods of darkness in the winter and long periods of daylight in the summer. In the Arctic, the sun does not set from May to August, and in the Antarctic, the sun does not rise from May to August.
Polar range:
The polar range is the area in which the polar habitat extends. It is defined by the 10°C (50°F) July isotherm, which is the line on a map that connects all points with the same average temperature in July. The polar range extends from the North Pole to the Arctic Circle (66.5°N) in the Northern Hemisphere and from the South Pole to the Antarctic Circle (66.5°S) in the Southern Hemisphere.
The polar range includes a variety of habitats, including tundra, taiga, ice caps, and glaciers. Tundra is a treeless region with a permanently frozen subsoil, while taiga is a forest with coniferous trees. Ice caps are large masses of ice that cover the land, and glaciers are large, slow-moving masses of ice that flow down from mountains and valleys.
The polar range is home to a unique variety of plants and animals that are adapted to the extreme cold and lack of sunlight. Some of the most common animals include polar bears, seals, walruses, and penguins.